The construction industry is one of the most heavily automated and mechanized industries in existence. We just don’t think about things like “back hoe”, “crane”, “nail gun” or “concrete plant” as forms of automation because they have been around for so long, but they have all replaced more manual aspects of construction processes.
And further automation will continue. We probably don’t even need humanoid robots. For instance, a robotic ironworker, instead of a humanoid robot, could be a module bolted on to a back hoe or other hoist.
Well… Automation usually describes process automation and you’ve just listed tools. So yeah, I agree, people don’t think of them as automation. Because, colloquially, they’re not.
The process of producing lumber is largely automated.
The process of producing concrete is largely automated.
The process of producing drywall, mud, paint, nails, tools, wires, switches, pipes, are all largely automated.
The process to create the architectural designs and blueprints for the house are largely automated.
The process to create the electricity, fuels and vehicles needed are all largely automated.
To make a house, people used to draw plans by hand (if at all), chop the trees down with an axe and/or saw that was made by hand by a blacksmith, shape the timber with hand tools made by the blacksmith, fasten things together with hand-crafted joinery or nails hand-made by the blacksmith. All the materials were transported by hand or by horse and lifted onto the structure by hand or manually operated hoist. Every part of it, including the production of all the tools, was previously done by hand.
The invention of the assembly line opened up the possibility to eventually automate virtually everything except the final assembly, and we have robots that can be made capable of doing that autonomously as well. You can buy pre-fab homes where all the major sections are built in a factory by robots and shipped out to the construction site and attached together.
Construction is far more automated than what you make it out to be.
I mean i could have just as easily described the process. Cutting a trench is a process, most of which was automated by the back hoe, conveyor, dump truck, and laser levels. Before, 20 or 30 people would be required for trench work which is now often done by a crew of two.
Right but whilst the thing is easier with better tools, and indeed the process has changed, to me ‘automation’ of a task refers to its process being reduced to, at best, a daily 30s review. Tools are… Ways of optimising and changing a process. Automation obviates them. It’s a personally lexical stand, you can sanely differ.
The construction industry is one of the most heavily automated and mechanized industries in existence. We just don’t think about things like “back hoe”, “crane”, “nail gun” or “concrete plant” as forms of automation because they have been around for so long, but they have all replaced more manual aspects of construction processes.
And further automation will continue. We probably don’t even need humanoid robots. For instance, a robotic ironworker, instead of a humanoid robot, could be a module bolted on to a back hoe or other hoist.
Well… Automation usually describes process automation and you’ve just listed tools. So yeah, I agree, people don’t think of them as automation. Because, colloquially, they’re not.
The process of producing lumber is largely automated.
The process of producing concrete is largely automated.
The process of producing drywall, mud, paint, nails, tools, wires, switches, pipes, are all largely automated.
The process to create the architectural designs and blueprints for the house are largely automated.
The process to create the electricity, fuels and vehicles needed are all largely automated.
To make a house, people used to draw plans by hand (if at all), chop the trees down with an axe and/or saw that was made by hand by a blacksmith, shape the timber with hand tools made by the blacksmith, fasten things together with hand-crafted joinery or nails hand-made by the blacksmith. All the materials were transported by hand or by horse and lifted onto the structure by hand or manually operated hoist. Every part of it, including the production of all the tools, was previously done by hand.
The invention of the assembly line opened up the possibility to eventually automate virtually everything except the final assembly, and we have robots that can be made capable of doing that autonomously as well. You can buy pre-fab homes where all the major sections are built in a factory by robots and shipped out to the construction site and attached together.
Construction is far more automated than what you make it out to be.
So when you hit assembly line I was with you. "That* is automation
I mean i could have just as easily described the process. Cutting a trench is a process, most of which was automated by the back hoe, conveyor, dump truck, and laser levels. Before, 20 or 30 people would be required for trench work which is now often done by a crew of two.
Right but whilst the thing is easier with better tools, and indeed the process has changed, to me ‘automation’ of a task refers to its process being reduced to, at best, a daily 30s review. Tools are… Ways of optimising and changing a process. Automation obviates them. It’s a personally lexical stand, you can sanely differ.